SOWC’s Advancing Water Technologies Program supported by new funding from Government of Canada

On January 14, 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an investment of up to $12 million in the Southern Ontario Water Consortium (SOWC) by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario.

This $12-million investment will enable SOWC’s Advancing Water Technologies (AWT) program to help Ontario small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) leverage world-class research facilities and academic expertise to develop and demonstrate water technologies for successful introduction to the market.

Prime Minister Trudeau noted in his remarks that “the funding we’ve announced today will allow the SOWC to partner with businesses and not-for-profit organizations with the goal of increasing innovation and water-related collaborative projects. Southern Ontario companies will have the opportunity to develop and accelerate the commercialization of new technologies in all areas of water and wastewater treatment and monitoring. This will make them stronger global competitors and grow local and regional economies in the process.”

The Prime Minister stated: “our government realizes the importance of investing in new groundbreaking companies and technologies. Canadians have long been international business leaders and skilled problem solvers. We can lead the world in clean technology development. By investing in groups like the Southern Ontario Water Consortium, we’re investing in our economy. We’re investing in our environment. We’re investing in our communities, but above all, we’re investing in our future.”

The AWT program is a brand new catalyst for business-led collaborations in the water sector. AWT provides financial contributions to industry-led research and development projects in the water sector that will result in the successful commercialization of globally-competitive and market-ready products and services. AWT will support existing industry-academic partnerships and actively encourage and develop new ones.

“We are immensely proud to be collaborating with like-minded partners on clean and innovative technologies. The partnership announced today between our government and SOWC will deliver health and economic benefits to the people of southern Ontario for years to come.”– Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada